niemann



Ange 11, 193k F. A. NIEMANN 1,813,425

CALCULATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Sept. 9, 192'? .Aug. 11, 1931. NlEMANN 1,818,425

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1931. A. NIEMANN 3,818,425

CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I if? Aug. 11, 1931. F. A. NIEMANN CALCULATING MACHINE '5 Sheeis-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 9, 1927 Aug 11 193210 F. A. NIEMANN 198183943253 CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug 1 1 F. NflEMAEHJ CALCULATING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1927 6 Sheets Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK A. NIEMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FELT &, TABKANT MFG. (30., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS CALCULATING MACHINE L Application filed September 9, 1927. Serial No. 218,399.

This invention relates to calculating machines and has for an object to provide im* proved mechanism for preventing such errors in calculation as may arise from mismanipulation of the keys by the operator of the machine.

The invention is of particular utility in v calculating machines of the multiple-order key-driven type, and, in the illustrative embodiment of the drawings, is shown in a calculating machine of the general type of the well known duplex comptometer. The general construction of the duplex comptometer is described in the following Letters Patent of the United States: Dorr E. Felt, No. 762,520 and No. 762,521, granted June 29, 1904; No. 1,028,344, granted June 4, 1912; No. 1,066,096, granted July 1, 1913; No. 1,072,933, granted September 9, 1913; Kurt F. Ziehm, No. 1,110,734, granted September 15, 1914; and Joseph A. V. Turck, No. 1,357,- 747 and No. 1,357,748, granted November 2', 1920, and N 0. 1,449,639, granted March 27, 1923.

In addition to the above stated general object, the invention provides such other improvements and advantages in construction or o ration of calculating machinery, as may e found to obtain in the structures and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In. the drawings accompanying this specification, the invention, although not limited thereto, is shown in one form or manner in which it may be embodied and practiced, and in said drawings:

a Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, the figure being taken on the right side of the machine and looking toward the left, as indicated by the line and arrows 1-1 of Fig. 8, and showing portions of the frame work cut away to give a clearer view of the construction of the working parts;

. Fig. 2 is another longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine taken farther to the right than Fig. 1, and also looking toward the left, as indicated by the line and arrows 2-2 of Fig. 8, the figure showing the construction and arrangement of the zeroizing mechanism, and otherparts, hereinafter described;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken from the left side of one of the orders of the machine and looking toward the right, as indicated by the line and arrows 3-3 of Fig. 8, the figure having port-ions of the frame work and other parts omitted to show Patent 0 the United States hereinbefore.

mentioned, a brief description of the general features of this machine will be sufiicient for an understanding of this invention.

The various parts and mechanisms of the illustrative machine are supported by skeleton framework mounted on the base plate 21 of a casing. This framework includes the side skeleton plates 22 and the intermediate skeleton plates 23 located respectively at the right and left sides of the machine and between the several orders thereof. These plates 22 and 23 are tied together by a number of transverse tie rods 24, providing a rigid construction on which are mounted the movable parts of the machine.

A number of duplicate orders, each havin nine (9) keys is provided; each order or co umn of keys is co-ordinated with its respective registering or numeral wheel, bymeans of interposed actuating and accumulator mechanisms and other parts. The keys 25 of each order are adapted to induce the operation of the corresponding actuating mechanism which transmits to an accumulator mechanism, including the registering wheels, an amount of travel determined by and proportioned to the numerical value of the particular key operated.

The actuatingv mechanism of each order in cludes a column actuator 26, in the form of a segment lever, pivoted at the rear end of the machine and adapted to be depressed varying distances, determined by any particular key 25 of that order struck by the operator. The keys are provided with stems 27 which extend down and bear upon the corresponding column actuator 26, for the purpose of transmitting thereto movement induced by depressin the keys.

The ey at the extreme front of the machine, being farther from the axis of the column actuator than the key at the extreme rear of the machine, moves the column actuator a shorter distance than does the rear key last mentioned. The keys of each column are numbered from 1 to 9 from the front to the rear of the machine; the 1 key at the extreme front moves the column actuator a distance substantially one-ninth of that effected by the operation of the 9 key at the extreme rear of the machine. Upon depression of intermediately positioned keys, the column actuator is operated distances respectively proportioned to the value of the intermediate key operated.

Each column actuator 26, when operated, imparts calculating movement to its corresponding accumulator mechanism, and, for this purpose, is provided at its forward end with a rack 28 which meshes with an accumulator pinion 29 journaled on a transverse shaft 30 extending across the machine and supported in the framework. The pinion 29 of each order is co-ordinated with an internal ratchet mechanism, not herein described, but fully set forth in certain of the United States patents hereinbefore mentioned (see particularly Patents Nos. 762,520, 762,521, 1,028,344, 1,066,096,1,072,933 and 1,110,734..)

It will be sufiicient to state that this ratchet mechanism is interposed between the pinion 29 and the lantern wheel 31 and becomes effective on the up-stroke of the column actuator to clutch the pinion 29 to the lantern wheel 31, which normally is connected operatively by a gear train 33 with the numeral wheel pinion 36. The numeral wheel pinion 36 is journaled on the transverse shaft 37 and is secured to its corresponding numeral or registering wheel 38. During the downward movement of a column actuator 26, the internal ratchet mechanism moves idly with respect to the lantern wheel 31, so that the gear train 33 and the numeral wheel pinion 36 remain stationary. However, during the return or up-stroke of the column actuator, the clutching of the accumulator pinion 29 to the lantern wheel 31, by said internal ratchet mechanism, operates the interposed gear train 33 so that the numeral wheel 38 is rotated a distance determined by the particular key of its corresponding order that has been first depressed and next released. Whenever an actuated key is released at the end of a full-downward stroke, the column actuator is moved upwardly by the column actuator springs 39.

Carrying mechanism is co-operatively combined with each ordinal accumulator mechanism for the purpose of actuating the accumulator mechanism of the next hi her order of the machine Whenever a carry is to go over from a lower order. The gear ratio of the accumulator mechanism is such that a complete rotation of the numeral wheel 38 is coincident with a one-half rotation of the gear 32 of the gear train 33. It follows that a carry must go over to the next higher order, whenever the gear 32 completes a half rotation. In addition to its function as a member of the gear train 33 for transmitting the motion of the column actuator 26, resulting from key actuation, to the numeral wheel 38, the gear 32 operates as a carrying motor winding gear. For the latter purpose, one end of the carrying motor spring 41 is secured to the winding gear 32. The other end of this motor spring is secured to and constantly tends to impart forward rotation to the carrying escapement member 42. This escapement member 42 is provided with a stop 43, of well known construction, which may be engaged by first one and then the other of the pair of releasing detents 44 and 45. Whenever said stop is released by one of the detents, the escapement member 42 is imparted one-half of a complete revolution by the power of the motor spring 41, at the conclusion of which the escapement member is checked in its movement by the engagement of said stop with the other of the detents. Each one-half rotation of the escapement member 42 imparts a corresponding movement to the carrying cam member 46 secured upon the left side of the escapement member.

The carrying cam member 46 consists of a pair of oppositely disposed cam arms against which the dolly roll 47 of the carrying lever 48 of the next higher order rides during the carrying operation. Each 180 throw of the carrying cam, through the engagement just described, moves the carrying lever 48 sufficiently to cause the carrying pawl 49, pivotally mounted thereon, to operate for one numeral space the lantern wheel 31 of the accumulator mechanism of the next higher order. This movement of the lantern wheel so operated is transmitted through the next higher order gear train 33 to the corresponding registering wheel 38 to complete the carrying transfer in said registering wheel from the accumulator mechanism of the next lower order. The release of the escapement member 42 from either of the detents 44, 45, is effected by the dolly roll 50 mounted on the winding gear 32 and adapted to ride under a cam faced car 51 of either detent 44, 45, to disengage the detent from the escapement member, whenever the winding gear 32 has been rotated into position for releasing a carry to the next higher order. p

g A spring 52 connecting the releasing de tents 44, 45, constantly tends to draw either or both of them into the path of the stop 43 of the escapement member 42. Hence, one of these detents is always in position for arresting the motion of the escapement member at the end of an operation sufiicientto effect a carrying throw to the next higher order. Although, according to the operation hereinbefore described, a full rotation of the winding gear 32 may wind into the motor spring 41 power sufficient to effect 7 two carrying throws of the carrying cam member 46, the alternate release and engagement of the escapement member 42 by first one and then the other of the detents 44, 45, permits only a single operation of the escapement member at the conclusion of each one-half rotatlon of the winding gear, with the result that only one carrying impulse is released at a time.

In the illustrative machine, provision is made for preventing any carrying cam member 46 from transferring a carry tothe next higher order at any time when the accumulator mechanism of that order is either already in motion, or is about to be moved by its corresponding column actuator. For this purpose. the well known detaining latch tooth is provided on a stop detent 54, pivotally mounted on the carrying lever 48 of the next higher order that is to receive the carry; whenever this stop detent 54 is released, a spring 55 shifts the detent 54 to move its tooth into position for engaging and thereby restraining movement of the escapement member 42 of the next lower order. The construction of the detaining latch mechanism is described and shown in detail in the prior Letters Patent hereinbefore mentioned.

So long as all the keys and the column actuator 26 of the next higher order are in their elevated positions of rest and the accumulator mechanism of that order is neither potentially nor actually in operation, the stop detent 54 is held out of position for effecting such restraining engagement of its tooth 53 with the lower order by the dolly I roll 56 of the column actuator 26 of the next higher order. Immediately on depression of the higher order column actuator26 by any key, the dolly roll 56 is moved out of engagement with the stop detent 54, thereby permitting the spring 55 ,to shift said step detent 54 into position for-engaging. its detaining latch tooth with the lower order escapement member 42. This relation of the parts continues until the higher order column actuator 26 has returned to its full elevated position. Whenever the stop detent 54 is permitted to operate, as above described, the carrying escapement member 42 is caught by the detaining latch tooth, just after the escapement member has been released by one or the other but not enough to effect an operation of the carrying lever 48. ,Hence, order column actuator of an order that is about to receive a carrying impulse be in a position other than its elevated position of rest, the lower order carrying cam 46 is restrained from operating the next higher order carrying lever 48, notwithstanding release of the escapement member 42 by its then co-operating detent 44, 45, until the detaining latch tooth is again moved out of engagement with the escapement member by the return to full elevated position of the higher order column actuator.

The illustrative machine thus permits simultaneous depression of keys and simultaneous delivery to the accumulators of column actuator impulses in twoor more adjacent orders, and yet prevents actual delivery to the next higher order of any carrying impulses released from any lower order, until the column actuator movement of the next higher order is complete. The operation of permitting simultaneous key-driven actuationof a plurality of column actuators in different orders of the machine, the strokes overlapping each other in any manner, may be termed duplexing and is one characteristic of the duplex comptometer hereinbefore referred to. I

The above description gives a brief outline of the mechanism by and the manner in which prime actuations and carrying im pulses are imparted to the accumulators in the duplex comptometers of the hereinbefore mentioned patents. The illustrative machine is also provided with various stop deshould any higher vices described in said patents, which control or limit the movements imparted to the accumulators by the prime actuations and carrying impulses.

There is also provided a cancelling or zeroizing mechanism for clearing the machine or cancelling, that is,-for returning the registering wheels and other parts to the zero positions. In the illustrative machine, the zeroizing operation is accomplished, as set forth in the Turck patents, Nos. 1,357,747 and 1,357,748, by disconnecting the registering wheels 38 from the actuating mechanisms in such manner that, although the various above mentioned stop devices are retained in their normal relations to the accumulators, the stored power in the carrying springs is released so as to impart backward rotation to the registering wheels. and thereby to move the wheels rearwardly from the various positions they may have occupied until they arrive individually at zero positions. The

release of the carrying springs for the above purpose may be edected, conveniently, by detraining or disengaging the carrying spring winding gears 32 from the gearing on the shaft 30.

The shaft 37 of the registering wheels 38 is mounted in fixed hearings in the framework, and also the shaft 30 of the lantern wheels 31 and other gearing and the shaft 35 of the gears 3=l of the gear train 33. In order to cause detraining or disengagement of the gears 32 from the gearing of the lanternwheel shaft 30, the shaft 505 of the gears 32 is carried by a swinging frame 64: which is pivotally movable outwardly on an axis coincident with the shaft 35. As the'swinging frame carries with it the shaft 505 of the carrying spring winding gears 32, the latter are disconnected from the gearing of the lantern-wheel shaft 30, whenever the swinging frame ca is imparted an outward pivotal movement on its axis 35.' According to the illustrative machine, the swinging frame 64 is retained in its gear detraining position, after a cancelling operation has been completed, and until a key 25 is depressed to effect further operation of the actuating and accumulator mechanisms. Upon depression of a key, following a cancelling operation, the swinging frame is restored to position for entraining the winding gears 32 with the gearing of the shaft 30.

The following parts are employed for causing the before mentioned detraining movement of the frame 64 to permit the carrying springs 41 to return the registering wheels to zero positions. As shown in Fig. 2, an operating handle or lever 71, hereinafter termed the cancelling crank is mounted on the right side plate 22 of'the framework. A segment 72 is fixed to the shaft of and moves with the crank 71. Pivoted to said segment 72 is a link 73 which, in turn, is pivoted to a depending lever 74 that is pivoted at 75 on the framework. The lower end of lever 74 is pivotally connected by a short link 76 with an .arm 77 rotatably mounted on the trans verse shaft 78. The shaft 78 is likewise journaled for rotary movement in suitable bearings in the framework. The arm 77 is provided with an engaging face 79 adapted to contact with a second arm 80 fixed on the shafi 78. The operation of these parts is as follows: When the parts are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, a short swinging movement of the cancelling crank 71 toward the front of the machine (to the left as viewed in Fig. 2) will impart, through segment 72, link 73, depending lever 7 4, short link 76, arm 77 and rocker arm 80, a short rocking movement to shaft 78 in a counter-clockwise directo detrain the gears 32 from the gearing of the lantern-wheel shaft 30. The action of detraining the gearing releases the carrying springs ll, so that the power stored in such springs causes them to unwind and to turn the respective registering wheels 38 rearwardly from their respective positions to zero positions. T he unwinding of the carrying springs and the rearward movement of the registering wheels are terminated 0 stops which become operative when the registering wheels have arrived at zero positions. Reference is made to the Turck Patent No. 1,357,748 for a full description of these stops and their operation.

This invention provides improved means for preventing errors in calculation which otherwise might arise from mismanipulation of a key. Should a key 25 be only partially depressed and released, the partial key stroke would, of course, effect only a partial operation of the accumulator mechanism of the corresponding order, and, in case the operator fails to complete the stroke of the partial ly depressed key, an erroneous result would be indicated in the registration made by the numeral wheels of the accumulator mechanism. According to the invention, improved mechanism is provided for locking not only the keys of orders other than the order in which the partially depressed keys has occurred, for the purpose of arresting operation of the machine until the error has been corrected, but also all the other keys of the same order as the partially depressed key. The operator is thus at once informed of the key-mismanipulation by his inability to proceed with the operation in any order of the machine, including the order in which the partial key-stroke has occurred. Provision is made for holding any partially-depressed key in a position below the other keys, until the stroke of the partially-depressed key is completed, thereby giving the operator an exact indication of the key which he has mismanipulated, so that he may quickly discover the error and make the correction. After any error is corrected by completing the stroke of any partially-operated key, the key returns to. its normal position, but, on reror avoids any possibility of the error escaping the attention of the operator.

The inter-ordinal key-board locking mechanism for preventing actuation of the polumn actuators and depression of the keys in other orders, when a key of any order is permitted to rise before reaching the bottom of its stroke includes the following operating parts and devices: A rock bar 105 extends bar 105 is ndrmally in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 3 with the rod 107 engaged under tails 111 of the latches 108 to hold these tails elevated and the latches 108 out of engagement with the corresponding latches 109 of the column actuators. Whenever any key is permitted to rise after'a partial down-stroke, the rock bar 105 is rocked downwardly in a direction (clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4) to depress the releasing bar 107, thereby releasing the latches 108 and permitting them to be moved by then springs 110 to engage and look all of the column actuators, except the one of the order of the partially depressed key, as particularly set forth in the said prior patents of Dorr E. Felt Nos. 1,028,344 and 1,066,096. Thus locked, the column actuators and the keys of all the other orders remain in such locked positions until the error is corrected by completing the stroke of the previously partially depressed key and the key-board locking mechanism is released. On completion of the stroke of the partially depressed key, its column actuator rises and becomes locked by the latch 108, in common with the column actuators of all the other orders, so that the correction of the error is immediately followed by a complete locking of the entire keyboard.

In order to unlock the key-board of the machine, which has become locked in the manner above set forth, there is provided a latch release finger-manipulated key 81, which e ngages a transverse rod 82 supported by talls 83 of the rock bar 105. When the key 81 is depressed the tails 83 likewise are depressed and the bar 105 is rocked rearwardly (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1), concurrently, the

arms 106, extending forwardly of bar 105, are lifted, and the bar 107 as well, so that the tails 111 of the latches 108 are elevated to disengage said latches from the corresponding latches 1090f the column actuators. This operation releases all of the column actuators and keys for further calculating operation of the machine.

The illustrative intra-ordinal locking mechanism for locking the other keys of the same order as the one in which a key has been mismanipulated is best shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7. Mounted on the right side of each of the division or skeleton plates 23 of each order of the machine is a hinge plate 201 to which is hinged by a hinge 202 of any re ferred construction the individual order ey locking bar 203. Thisba'r 203 has a limited rocking or pivotal movement on its hinge axis 202, and such movement is employed to cause the bar 203 to assume operative or inoperative positions in respect of the keys of the order which it controls. The top edge of the bar 203 is provided with nineupstanding projections 204 with turned over ends 205, one for each key, so placed that said turned over ends will co-o rate in a manner hereinafter described with projections 206 (Fig. 7 formed on the key stems 27. A spring 207, connecting one of the lock bar projections with a fixed part of the framework such as a skeleton plate 23, acts, when released, to pull the lock bar 203 toward the corresponding column of keys and to position the turned over ends 205 of the bar beneath the shoulders of the projections 206 of any of the keys remaining in full elevated or normal position. At the rear end of such lock bar 203 there is provided a turned over projection 208 having a rebent depending end 209. The column actuator 26 of the corresponding order is provided with an upstanding projection 210 for co-operation with the depending rebent end 209 of the rocking lock bar 203. As shown in Figs. 6 and7, the rebent end 209 is bent out of parallel with the plane of its lock bar 203, and the upstanding projection 210 of the column actuator is bent out of parallel with the plane of the column actuator, but in a plane crossing the plane of the rebent end 209. This construction insures co-acting engagement of the parts 209, 210 at the proper time.

Whenever the column actuator 26 is in its elevated position of rest, its projection 210 engages the depending end 209 of the corresponding lock bar 203 and holds the bar 203 against the pull of spring 207 outwardly from the key stems 27 and in such position that the turned over ends 205 of the bar are clear of the key stem projections 206, so

that normal key actuation may proceed without interference. On depression of a key 25, it engages the column actuator early in its down stroke to force the column actuator downwardly for subsequent accumulation.

The engagement of the key with the column actuator does not occur, however, until after the key projection 206 has passed below the corresponding projection 205 of the lock bar 203, s soon as the column actuator begins its downward movement the projection 210 is withdrawn from beneath projection 209" of the lock bar, thereby releasing the latter" for swinging movement on its hinge 202. Thereupon the spring 207 pulls the bar 203 toward the key stems 27 to position the projections205 beneath the key projections 206 and prevent depression of all of the other keys of the order, except the key already depressed. In normal key actuation, the rising movement of the column actuator effects reengagement of projection 210 with the lock bar projection 209 and restores the bar 203 to its normal inoperative position, just before the key has com leted its rising movement, with the result t at the key may return to normal without interference.

Whenever any key is partially depressed and released before having completed its full down stroke, the spring of the key causes it to rise, but the'column actuator remains in partially depressed position, because of the operation of locking mechanism fully set forth, particularly in the Felt Patents Nos. 1,028,344 and 1,066,096. Inasmuch as the column actuator directly controls the opera tion of the lock bar 203 and remains depressed, the bar 203 will remain 1n position to lock against depression all the other keys of the same order. Moreover, the partially depressed key will be prevented from rising to its full elevated position by the engagement of the key projection 206 beneath the corresponding lock bar projection 205 and the thus abnormally positioned key Wlll afford an indication to the operator of the key which has been mismanipulated. As soon as the mismanipulated key begins to rise, the inter-ordinal locking mechanism becomes effective to lock against depression the keys of all the other orders of the machine. On completion of the stroke of the partially depressed key, the column actuator rises and restores the lock bar 203 to normal inoperative position, but the column of keys of that order becomes locked by engagement of the column actuator latch 109 with the latch 108, as hereinbefore described. Thus the entire keyboard remains locked until the release key 81 is o erated to release the latches 108.

In tl ie illustrative machine, the operation of zeroizing or clearing the registering wheels 38 concurrently clears the entire keyboard for key-actuation, regardless of any locking action of the inter and intra-ordinal locking mechanisms hereinbefore described and notwithstanding any abnormal position assumed by any previously mismaniplb lated key. Hence, whenever the registering wheels 38 are restored to zero, the ke -board locking mechanisms are released at t e same time and the operator may proceed to operate the machine immediately after zeroizing and regardless of any previous errors.

As shown in Fig. 2, the rock bar 105 is provided on the right side of the machine with an arm 301 pivotally connected at its lower end to a link 302. The forward end of this link is slotted, as shown at 303, and said slot receives a pin 304 mounted on the cancellin crank 71. Whenever the cancelling cran 71 is moved forwardly, in zeroizing, it pulls the link 302 forwardly and rocks the arm 301' in a direction to cause the latchreleasing bar 107 to rise and lift the tails'of the latches 108 to disengage said latches from the column actuator latches 109, thereby disconnecting the inter-ordinal lockin mechanism from the column actuators. spring 305 connecting the arm 301 with the framework maintains said arm in normal position whenever the cancelling crank 71 is idle.

v The following connections are employed in the illustrative machine for restoring the in tra-ordinal locking mechanism to inoperative position, concurrently with the operation of zeroizing, should any key be held at this time in a position below the other keys, or be otherwise under the control of said intra-ordinal locking mechanism. As hereinbefore explained, the lock bar 203 of the intra-ordinal locking mechanism remains in key-locking position only so long as a corresponding column actuator is depressed. Should a key be partially depressed and released, the column actuator remains tpartially depressed because of the locking 0 the lantern wheels 31 owing to the action of the accumulator looking detents 321, which are only released at the conclusion of the down stroke of a column actuator. This operation is fully ex lained in said United States patents of Dorr Felt, No. 1,072,933, and No. 1,066,096, and of J. A. V. Turck, No, 1,357,747. Provision is made,

however, whereby the operation of the cancelling crank 71 releases the detents 321 so that the column actuators are free to rise and restore any of the lock bars 203 to normal inoperative position. Mounted in the framework is a rock shaft 322 provided with arms 323 appropriately arranged above the tails 326 of the detents 321. At each zeroizing operation, this rock bar is removed to a position (as more fully explained in said patents) for re-v leasing any detent 321 which may be in position for locking its corresponding lantern wheel 31. For this purpose, the lever arm 7 4., of the zeroizing mechanism is provided with a shoulder 347 adapted to enga e the crank 346 which rocks the shaft 322. uring zeroizing, the forward movement of the arm 74: rocks the shaft 322 to depress the tails 326 of the detents 321 and release the corresponding ordinal lantern wheels, thereby permitting any column actuator previously held in depressed position to rise and restore the intra-ordinal locking mechanism to normal inoperative relation to the other parts.

The term cancelling crank, wherever employed in the foregoing claims, has been adopted for convenience and is not to be construed strictly, but includes broadly, in addition to the s ecific disclosure of the drawings'and speci cation, cancelling or zeroizing mechanism, whether manually or power operated.

The invention as hereinafter claimed is not limited to any particular form of construction and the details of the illustrative machine may be variously modified. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly, as they may be advantageously employed in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is:'

1.. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: a column actuator, a denominational series of keys, a normally-inoperative locking bar arranged alon the series, spring means for operating said bar to lock the keys, and means for re leasing said bar when one of the series is struck, embracing, co-operating members controlled respectively by the bar and the col-. umn actuator.

2. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: a column actuator, a denominational series of keys, a normally-inoperative .locking bar arranged along the series, means for operating said bar to lock the keys, and means for releasing said bar When one of the series is struck, embracing, co-operating members controlled respectively by the bar and the column actuator.

3. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: the registering mechanism, the multiple series of keys operating said registering mechanism, interordinal locking mechanism adapted to lock other orders of the keys when a key of one order receives only apartial key-stroke, intra-ordinal locking mechanism responsive to key depression forlocking other keys of the same order, and manually-controlled means independent of said keys for releasing said inter-ordinal locking mechanism.

4. In a multiple-order key driven calculating machine, in combination:' ordinal keys, registering Wheels, actuating devices for said registering wheels, intra-ordinal mechanism responsive to depression of a key for locking other keys of the same order, inter-ordinal mechanism responsive to release of the key after partial depression for locking other orders of keys, and a lock-release key for controlling said inter-ordinal mechanism.

5. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering wheels, actuating devices for said registering Wheel, a combined inter and intraordinal locking mechanism responsive to depression of a key for locking other keys of the same order and also responsive to release of a key after partial depression for holding the-partially-depressed key at a level below the other keys and for maintaining all the keys locked subsequent to completion of the stroke of the partially-depressed key, and a manually-controlled release for said locking mechanism.

6. An error-preventing mechanism for key-operated calculating machines of the multiple order type, comprising, means, 0perative on the initial depression of any key, for holding a partially-depressed key from complete return to normal position and locking the other keys of the same order, means, operative on partial-depression of a ke for looking all other keys of the keylioard against depression, and means, independent of the keys and operative only after completion of the stroke of the partially-depressed key, for clearing the locking of the keyboard.

7. An error-preventing mechanism for multiple order key-driven calculating machines, comprising, intra-ordinal locking means operative, on depression of a key, to lock the other keys of the same order and also to lock the depressed key against complete return until it has been given its complete stroke, inter-ordinal locking means for locking all the other orders of keys on a partial stroke of any key and for lockin also the entire order of the partially-strum key on completion of its stroke, whereby the entire key-board is locked pursuant to mismanipulation of a key and correction of the error produced by the mismanipulated key, and a finger manipulated device for clearing the locked key-board for subsequent keyactuation.

8. In a key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal columns of keys, intraordinal locking mechanism, operative on depression of any key in any of the ordinal columns, to lock all other keys of the same column, and also to lock the key so depressed against return to normal in the event of a partial stroke of said depressed key, interordinal locking mechanism for looking all other columns of keysagainst depression in the event of a partial key-stroke in any column and for locking the column of the partially-struck key on completion of its stroke, means, independent of the keys and operative only after correction of a partial keystroke, for clearing the locked key-board for subsequent key-actuation.

'9. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: columns of depressible ordinal keys, mechanism for looking all the other keys in any order on depression of a key thereof, and, operative on partial depression of a key, for locking the Whole key-board against key depression and for locking the partially depressed key against full return to normal, and key-board unlocking means operable independently of the keys but only after a partly-depressed key has beeniully depressed.

10. In a calculating machine, in combination registering mechanism,zeroizing mecha-- nism for clearing the registering mechanism, columns of ordinal depressible keys, keyboard locking mechanism for lockin all the other keys in any order on depression of a pendent of the keys and operable only nism, full key-stroke mechanism for compelling the complete operation of the keys, embracing means, operative at the beginning of the stroke of any key, to hold the partially-struck key in an abnormal position relative to the other keys and to look all the other keys against operation, and a finger-manipulated device, independent of the ordlnal keys and operative, only after the stroke of any partially-struck key has been completed, to clear the locking of the ordinal keys.

12. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: a column actuator, a denominational series of keys, a normally-inoperative key-locking bar arranged along the series, and means having a locking bias controlled by the movement of the column actuator to effect locking movement of said bar.

13. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering wheels, key-driven actuating devices for turning said registering wheels proportionately to the numerical values of the keys operated, and means having a locking bias controlled by said actuating devices and responsive to movement of a key for locking other keys of the same order.

14. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering Wheels, key-driven actuating devices for turning said registering wheels proportionately to the numerical values of the keys operated, and means having a locking bias controlled by said actuat ing devices and responsive to initialde ression of a key for locking other keys 0 the same order. i

15. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering wheels, column actuators for operating said registering wheels, and means having a locking bias controlled by said column actuators and responsive to movement of a key for locking other keys of the same order.

16. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: a column actuator, a denominational series of keys, and means having a locking bias directly controlled by the column actuator to effect locking of other keys of the series on mismanipulation of one of the keys.

17 In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal columns of keys, accumulator mechanism, ordinal key-manipulated actuating mechanism for operating said accumulator mechanism, full key-stroke mechanism for compelling the complete operation of the keys, embracing means having a locking bias controlled by said actuating mechanism and operative on incomplete depression of any key to hold/the incompletely depressed key below the level of the other keys and means for looking all the other keys against depression, and a finger-manipulated device, independent oi the ordinal keys and operative, only after the stroke of the incompletely depressed key has been completed, to clear the locking of said ordinal keys.

18. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal columns of keys, accumulator mechanism, ordinal key-manipulated actuating mechanism for operating said. accumulator mechanism, full key-stroke mechanism for compelling the complete operation of the keys, embracing means having a locking bias controlled by said actuating mechanism and operative on partial depression, of any key to hold the partially-struck key in an abnormal position relative to the other keys and means for locking all the other keys against operation, and a finger-manipulated device, independent of the ordinal keys and operative, only after the stroke of the partially-struck key has been completed, to clear the locking of said ordinal keys.

19. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating ,machine, in combination: ordinal columns of keys, accumulator mechanism, ordinal key-manipulated actuating mechanism for operating said accumulator mechanism, full key-stroke mechanism for compelling the complete operation of the keys, embracing means having a locking bias, controlled by said actuating mechanism and operating on abnormal movement of any key, to hold the abnormally moved'key below the level of the other keys and means for looking all the other keys against depression, and a finger-manipulated device, independent of the ordinal keys and operative,

only after correction of the error caused byan abnormally moved key, to clear the lockingof said ordinal keys.

20. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal columns of keys, accumulator mechanism, ordinal key-manipulated actuating mechanism for ofplerating said accumulator mechanism, and 11 key-stroke mechanism for compeltill ling the complete operation of the keys, embracing means having a locking bias, controlled by said actuating mechanism and operative on abnormal movement of any ke to hold the abnormally moved key in an a normal position relatlve to the other keys and means for locking all the other keys against depression.

21. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering wheels, locking means havin a blas to lock other keys of the same or erin which key depression occurs, and key-driven actuating devices for said registering wheels and controlling the operation of said locking means.

22. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, re 'stering wheels, locking means havgo in a bias to lock other ke s of the same or er in which key depression occurs, and key-driven actuating devices for said registering wheels and operating when inactive to maintain said locking means inoperative.

u 23. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registering wheels, pivotally mounted key-driven actuating devices for turning sald registering wheels proportionately to 80 the numerical values of the keys operated, and means pivoted on an axis disposed at an angle to the axis of movement of said actuating devices for locking other keys of the same order.

85 24. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal keys, registerin wheels, pivotall mounted locking means or locking other eys of the same order in which key de ression occurs,

'40 and key-driven actuating evices for said registering wheels and controlling the operation of said locking means.

25. In a multiple-order key-driven calculating machine, in combination: ordinal 66 keys, registerin wheels, pivotall mounted locking means or locking other eys of the same order in which key depression occurs, and key-driven actuating devices for said registering wheels and operating when inlo active to maintain said locking means inoperative.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ification.

FRE ERICK A. NIEMANN. 

